Month: October 2016
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Nonprofit grades hospitals on patient safety; the 52 ranked in Ky. improved slightly, but the state still ranks relatively low
By Traci Thomas Kentucky Health News A nonprofit group that rates hospitals released its patient-safety scores Monday, giving most Kentucky hospitals a ‘B’ or ‘C’. The scores are similar to...
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Friedell Committee hears focus should be on prevention programs, community strategies and community partnerships
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Seventy percent of the influence on our health comes from our own behaviors and the environment. So, plans to improve Kentucky’s...
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State sues failed Kentucky Health Cooperative’s former chief executive board and contractors, alleging mismanagement
By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News The former president and directors of the Kentucky Health Cooperative, created under federal health reform, are facing a lawsuit from the...
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Cost of employer-based health insurance grew more slowly after 2010 reform law, but not for single-person plans in Kentucky
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The growth in premiums and deductibles for employer-based health insurance has slowed since federal health reform was enacted, but workers probably haven’t noticed because...
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Medicaid participants can change their managed-care organization through Dec. 16; there are five to choose from
Kentuckians with Medicaid coverage can switch to a different managed-care organization though Dec. 16. Switching is voluntary and coverage with a newly chosen MCO will start Jan. 1. Kentuckians can...
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Kentucky ranked No. 1 in the percentage of cancer deaths that were related to smoking in 2014
Kentucky has long ranked No. 1 in cancer deaths, and in deaths from lung cancer, so it seems only natural that it rank first in deaths from smoking. It did...
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Feds give UK $19.8 million second-round grant to bring health research into communities in Kentucky and Central Appalachia
By Al Cross and Traci Thomas Kentucky Health News A four-year, $19.8 million research grant to the University of Kentucky will bring better health care for people in Kentucky and...
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Health commissioner leaves political correctness at the door, talks about getting governor to back anti-smoking measures
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – State health officials didn’t shy away from saying that smoking was one of Kentucky’s top health issues at a recent meeting...
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DEA investigators say officials purposely hampered attempts to slow rise of opioids, doing the bidding of drug manufacturers
Drug ÂEnforcement Administration investigators say attempts to staunch the rise of opioids were derailed by interference from higher ups, Lenny Bernstein and Scott Higham report for The Washington Post. Ten years ago, DEA...
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Kentucky behavioral health specialist says the state has been ‘epicenter’ of the nation’s addiction epidemic for almost 20 years
Though the United States’ addiction problem and overdose deaths has sparked national attention, the epidemic in Kentucky dates back to the late 1990s. Geoff Wilson, a Lexington-based substance abuse counselor, said...